History

Reacting to the Past

"In the past couple of years, I've been an African-American slave, Thomas Paine, a Puritan, an advisor to the Emperor of China, and the British Governor General of India."

Benjamin Williams

Many of the courses offered by the history department use games and simulations to immerse students in a particular historical moment. These games vary from short and rather abstract exercises that last a single class period to much more involved role-playing games that require several weeks. Most of these longer games are drawn from the Reacting to the Past series. These games immerse students in classical Athens, Ming China, the French Revolution, the court of Henry VIII, and modern India. We have also played two very different games about New York City. One is set in the revolutionary ferment of 1775. The other is set in the Bohemian world of Greenwich Village in 1913.

One of the most interesting things about these games is the degree to which they are run by the students themselves. After a few preliminary sessions of traditional instruction in which the professor makes sure the students understand the historical context and main intellectual collisions of the game, she steps back and lets the students take charge. This is thrilling, disorienting, and quite challenging for most students, but by figuring out how to run the game the classroom becomes theirs.

"One of the things I love best about the game-based approach is how it puts students at the center of the classroom."

Nicolas Proctor, Professor of History

In addition to using games in most of his classes, Nicolas Proctor is currently developing several different games for the Reacting series. "Forest Diplomacy, 1756" explores the issues of war, peace, and land that divided Indians and colonists during the French and Indian War. "Kentucky, 1861" examines how the people of a pivotal border state deal with the secession crisis that led to the American Civil War. "Montgomery, 1956," puts Martin Luther King, Jr., and his co-conspirators on trial for their roles in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and "Paris, 1888" dramatizes the rise of modern art. He is also involved with a project to develop a series of games as a substitute to standard US history survey textbooks. Rebecca Livingstone and Judith Walden are also experimenting with the use of games in various courses.

"The simulation games that are played during Reacting to the Past bring out enthusiasm in every student. They are an opportunity for students to step into the shoes of the individuals they play and understand how difficult or complex their lives were at the time. If you love history as I do, you will find these games to be on of the highlights of your major and college experience."

Keith Bryan

Last Updated: 11/18/11